Synopses & Reviews
Review
"Liberalism has become a pejorative term in much of American politics. John Hall, sociologist both at Harvard and the University of Southhampton, seeks to restore its historic meaning and give it new social content. Individuals are the custodians of moral values, and every individual should be able to choose his/her ends in life. Liberalism may be morally neutral about ends but not about the individual's right to choose such ends. A liberal should be concerned not with whether politics is moral but with the consequences of political action. Liberalism offers an ideology that can compete with Marxism and fascism and can encourage economic growth among the widest range of countries, especially in the Third World. Hall proposes a new vision of liberalism that can make for a dynamic but peaceful world order." Reviewed by Daniel Weiss, Virginia Quarterly Review (Copyright 2006 Virginia Quarterly Review)